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Atiu (Cook Islands)

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From the airplane, is clearly seen the large platform of coral that protects the island

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From the airplane, is clearly seen the large platform of coral that protects the island

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Upon arrival, leis of flowers welcome visitors

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Upon arrival, leis of flowers welcome visitors

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For those arriving from the sea, the only access to the island is the small port on the north coast

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For those arriving from the sea, the only access to the island is the small port on the north coast

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The women of the villages meet on the coral platform to collect crustaceans and shellfish

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The women of the villages meet on the coral platform to collect crustaceans and shellfish

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The women of the villages meet on the coral platform to collect crustaceans and shellfish

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The women of the villages meet on the coral platform to collect crustaceans and shellfish

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The island is completely surrounded by a coral platform that prevents ships from reaching the coast

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The island is completely surrounded by a coral platform that prevents ships from reaching the coast

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The island is completely surrounded by a coral platform that prevents ships from reaching the coast

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The island is completely surrounded by a coral platform that prevents ships from reaching the coast

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Deserted beaches of white sand, typical of the south-west coast

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Deserted beaches of white sand, typical of the south-west coast

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During high tide, the reef platform is submerged by the waves

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During high tide, the reef platform is submerged by the waves

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During high tide, the reef platform is submerged by the waves

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During high tide, the reef platform is submerged by the waves

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Natural swimming pools on the coral platform that protects the island

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Natural swimming pools on the coral platform that protects the island

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A fish box was trapped on the platform reef during the low tide

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A fish box was trapped on the platform reef during the low tide

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Atiu is one of the few places in the world where you can see the coral fossil

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Atiu is one of the few places in the world where you can see the coral fossil

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White beaches formed by coral crushed by the ocean waves

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White beaches formed by coral crushed by the ocean waves

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The only coastal road of the island

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The only coastal road of the island

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Due to the slow and continuous lifting of the island, the coral of the barrier dies forming the rocky cliff

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Due to the slow and continuous lifting of the island, the coral of the barrier dies forming the rocky cliff

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Due to the slow and continuous lifting of the island, the coral of the barrier dies forming the rocky cliff

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Due to the slow and continuous lifting of the island, the coral of the barrier dies forming the rocky cliff

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Due to the slow and continuous lifting of the island, the coral of the barrier dies forming the rocky cliff

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Due to the slow and continuous lifting of the island, the coral of the barrier dies forming the rocky cliff

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Walking on the cliff, you can see clearly the ancient coral structures

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Walking on the cliff, you can see clearly the ancient coral structures

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Walking on the cliff, you can see clearly the ancient coral structures

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Walking on the cliff, you can see clearly the ancient coral structures

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The fossilized coral is present everywhere even reaching 30 m in height in the interior of the island

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The fossilized coral is present everywhere even reaching 30 m in height in the interior of the island

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The fossilized coral is present everywhere even reaching 30 m in height in the interior of the island

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The fossilized coral is present everywhere even reaching 30 m in height in the interior of the island

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The ancient lagoon now has disappeared giving way to cultivated fields

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The ancient lagoon now has disappeared giving way to cultivated fields

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The road through the forest

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The road through the forest

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The interior of the island is covered by dense tropical forest

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The interior of the island is covered by dense tropical forest

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The island is covered by tropical forest and unusual animals that move inland from the sea in search of food such as this crab

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The island is covered by tropical forest and unusual animals that move inland from the sea in search of food such as this crab

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Walking in the forest, is possible find large fossil as this Tridacna gigas

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Walking in the forest, is possible find large fossil as this Tridacna gigas

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A Tridacna gigas still with inside the fossilized mollusk become stone

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A Tridacna gigas still with inside the fossilized mollusk become stone

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On the island there are several caves that were once submerged by the sea

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On the island there are several caves that were once submerged by the sea

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On the island there are several caves that were once submerged by the sea and which are today hidden in the forest

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On the island there are several caves that were once submerged by the sea and which are today hidden in the forest

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On the island there are several caves that were once submerged by the sea and which are today hidden in the forest

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On the island there are several caves that were once submerged by the sea and which are today hidden in the forest

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The island is the less touristy archipelago. A simple but functional pub where you can enjoy a local drink similar to beer

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The island is the less touristy archipelago. A simple but functional pub where you can enjoy a local drink similar to beer

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A typical dish of the island are bananas, mangoes and papayas, eaten with chopped coconut splash of lemon

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A typical dish of the island are bananas, mangoes and papayas, eaten with chopped coconut splash of lemon

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A simple but functional pub where you can enjoy a local drink similar to beer

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A simple but functional pub where you can enjoy a local drink similar to beer

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Where is Atiu

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Where is Atiu

From the airplane, is clearly seen the large platform of coral that protects the island
From the airplane, is clearly seen the large platform of coral that protects the island
Upon arrival, leis of flowers welcome visitors
Upon arrival, leis of flowers welcome visitors
For those arriving from the sea, the only access to the island is the small port on the north coast
For those arriving from the sea, the only access to the island is the small port on the north coast
The women of the villages meet on the coral platform to collect crustaceans and shellfish
The women of the villages meet on the coral platform to collect crustaceans and shellfish
The women of the villages meet on the coral platform to collect crustaceans and shellfish
The women of the villages meet on the coral platform to collect crustaceans and shellfish
The island is completely surrounded by a coral platform that prevents ships from reaching the coast
The island is completely surrounded by a coral platform that prevents ships from reaching the coast
The island is completely surrounded by a coral platform that prevents ships from reaching the coast
The island is completely surrounded by a coral platform that prevents ships from reaching the coast
Deserted beaches of white sand, typical of the south-west coast
Deserted beaches of white sand, typical of the south-west coast
During high tide, the reef platform is submerged by the waves
During high tide, the reef platform is submerged by the waves
During high tide, the reef platform is submerged by the waves
During high tide, the reef platform is submerged by the waves
Natural swimming pools on the coral platform that protects the island
Natural swimming pools on the coral platform that protects the island
A fish box was trapped on the platform reef during the low tide
A fish box was trapped on the platform reef during the low tide
Atiu is one of the few places in the world where you can see the coral fossil
Atiu is one of the few places in the world where you can see the coral fossil
White beaches formed by coral crushed by the ocean waves
White beaches formed by coral crushed by the ocean waves
The only coastal road of the island
The only coastal road of the island
Due to the slow and continuous lifting of the island, the coral of the barrier dies forming the rocky cliff
Due to the slow and continuous lifting of the island, the coral of the barrier dies forming the rocky cliff
Due to the slow and continuous lifting of the island, the coral of the barrier dies forming the rocky cliff
Due to the slow and continuous lifting of the island, the coral of the barrier dies forming the rocky cliff
Due to the slow and continuous lifting of the island, the coral of the barrier dies forming the rocky cliff
Due to the slow and continuous lifting of the island, the coral of the barrier dies forming the rocky cliff
Walking on the cliff, you can see clearly the ancient coral structures
Walking on the cliff, you can see clearly the ancient coral structures
Walking on the cliff, you can see clearly the ancient coral structures
Walking on the cliff, you can see clearly the ancient coral structures
The fossilized coral is present everywhere even reaching 30 m in height in the interior of the island
The fossilized coral is present everywhere even reaching 30 m in height in the interior of the island
The fossilized coral is present everywhere even reaching 30 m in height in the interior of the island
The fossilized coral is present everywhere even reaching 30 m in height in the interior of the island
The ancient lagoon now has disappeared giving way to cultivated fields
The ancient lagoon now has disappeared giving way to cultivated fields
The road through the forest
The road through the forest
The interior of the island is covered by dense tropical forest
The interior of the island is covered by dense tropical forest
The island is covered by tropical forest and unusual animals that move inland from the sea in search of food such as this crab
The island is covered by tropical forest and unusual animals that move inland from the sea in search of food such as this crab
Walking in the forest, is possible find large fossil as this Tridacna gigas
Walking in the forest, is possible find large fossil as this Tridacna gigas
A Tridacna gigas still with inside the fossilized mollusk become stone
A Tridacna gigas still with inside the fossilized mollusk become stone
On the island there are several caves that were once submerged by the sea
On the island there are several caves that were once submerged by the sea
On the island there are several caves that were once submerged by the sea and which are today hidden in the forest
On the island there are several caves that were once submerged by the sea and which are today hidden in the forest
On the island there are several caves that were once submerged by the sea and which are today hidden in the forest
On the island there are several caves that were once submerged by the sea and which are today hidden in the forest
The island is the less touristy archipelago. A simple but functional pub where you can enjoy a local drink similar to beer
The island is the less touristy archipelago. A simple but functional pub where you can enjoy a local drink similar to beer
A typical dish of the island are bananas, mangoes and papayas, eaten with chopped coconut splash of lemon
A typical dish of the island are bananas, mangoes and papayas, eaten with chopped coconut splash of lemon
A simple but functional pub where you can enjoy a local drink similar to beer
A simple but functional pub where you can enjoy a local drink similar to beer
Where is Atiu
Where is Atiu

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Cook Islands - Curiosity - Back to index

By: Carlo Piccinelli

ID: 25

Atiu island on Google Maps

Unlike the other islands of the archipelago, Atiu is not protected by a coral reef, but is surrounded by a large coral base generated by slow and continuous rise of the island as a result of the clash of continental plates. This particular geological situation makes Atiu, one of the few places in the world where you can see the Makatea, the fossilized coral. In Atiu, there are 4 visible transformations of the coral barrier: the Reef (coral which lives on the barrier), the Roto (live coral remains dry during low tide), the Uruatete, (coral structures death that turns into sand) and the Makatea (coral fossilized incorporated in the forest, now located 30 m above sea level). These 4 types of coral are due to the continuous elevation of the island (about 0.2 mm/year), which prevents to the coral to create a barrier and then a lagoon.
More informations:
Air New Zealand: www.airnewzealand.com
Tourism Office: www.cookislands.travel
Hotel in Atiu: www.atiuvillas.com